Mia Kane shoved her hand away and turned to leave without a second glance. An indignant Mrs. Lawson stepped forward. "Vivian is just too good-natured! She’s spoiled you, letting you walk all over her and act like a bully."

"Let me tell you, if it were me you were messing with, I’d make you pay. I’d skin you alive..."

Mrs. Lawson’s hand had just landed on Mia Kane’s shoulder when Mia unexpectedly grabbed it and, with surprising ease, executed an over-the-shoulder throw.

Mrs. Lawson shrieked in pain.

The other three women were terrified.

It was such a clean and decisive throw. They never would have imagined that someone with Mia Kane’s slender frame could flip the large, burly Mrs. Lawson.

"Are you done yet? You wasted my entire morning, and I haven’t even settled the score with you for that. Now, you apologize to me. You clearly didn’t have time, yet you called me here anyway. Are you just messing with me?!"

"Hurry up and apologize."

"You... Is this how your studio treats people? Abusing your reputation to bully customers? The customer is always right, don’t you get it?"

"Sorry, but here, *I’m* the one who’s always right!"

"You... I’m going to post this online so everyone can see your true colors. Some ’international designer’—you’re nothing but a piece of trash with no morals..."

Mrs. Lawson struggled to her feet, clutching her back, and immediately pulled out her phone, only for Mia Kane to snatch it away.

"Are you all dead? Aren’t you going to help me? Grab her!"

"Mrs. Lawson, maybe we should just let it go. I know you mean well and you’re trying to stand up for me. But... there’s no need..."

Vivian Lynch jogged over and whispered in her ear, "Don’t provoke her. She’s really not someone to mess with. I’ve never won against her..."

"That’s because you’re too nice. Once this video is online, her reputation will be ruined. What’s there to be afraid of?"

"Lena..."

"You all, hurry up and grab her! Get my phone back."

"I’d like to see any of you try to touch me!"

Mia Kane shot them a cold glare, and the other two middle-aged women trembled in fear.

She threw Mrs. Lawson’s phone to the ground, smashing it to pieces.

"Did you think I was some timid little flower, trembling after marrying into a rich family, for you all to bully as you please?"

"Did you think that just because you’ve been in your position for a long time, you can pull rank and lecture your juniors?"

"Did you think that just because you’re paying, I have to suck up to you and wait on you hand and foot?"

This series of three questions left Mrs. Lawson completely stunned.

"I am Mrs. Preston. I dare anyone to lay a finger on me. Just try it!"

"Mrs. Lawson, I’m no longer interested in taking your order. And you still owe me the final payment. I’m very unhappy today, so consider it compensation for my wasted time!"

"You... you... you..."

Mrs. Lawson was so furious she was speechless.

She had never met someone so brazenly defiant.

She had assumed Mia Kane came from a humble background and that she was a meek little white rabbit when she was with Chase Lockwood, which was why Vivian Lynch had her completely wrapped around her finger.

She wanted to get on the Lockwood Family’s good side because her husband was the second son, and the eldest son made all the decisions in their family.

If the Lockwood Family was willing to support them, her husband would have more of a say in his own family.

That’s why she was so eager to make a good impression, hoping to use the Lawson Family’s influence to put Mia Kane in her place.

The Lawson Family was the nation’s largest real estate developer. Their assets couldn’t compare to the Preston Family’s, but as a long-established brand, they still held considerable influence in Argent.

Mrs. Lawson was a smooth operator who got along with everyone, and most people were willing to show her some respect.

But she never expected Mia Kane to show her such blatant disrespect.

"What ’you’? Get out of my way. What, are you going to ask me to stay for lunch?"

"Mia Kane... No one has ever dared to speak to me like that. You... Today, I’ll teach you a lesson on President Preston’s behalf."

Mrs. Lawson was fuming and raised her hand high for a slap.

’This is the moment I’ve been waiting for,’ Mia thought. ’I couldn’t be the one to strike first, or I’d lose the moral high ground.’

Just as the slap was about to land, Mia Kane caught her wrist and sent a slap back in return.

"Mia Kane, what are you doing? How could you hit her? Don’t you know Mrs. Lawson’s father is... he’s someone high up in the government!"

Vivian Lynch grew anxious and rushed to break up the fight.

In an instant, the mahjong room descended into chaos.

Mia Kane’s combat prowess was off the charts. After all, she had been personally trained by Adrian Preston. The other women were no match for her.

She landed a kick to their chests and a slap across Vivian Lynch’s face.

She deliberately pretended her hand "slipped" to land hits on Vivian Lynch.

The more Vivian Lynch tried to mediate, the more she got hit. Mrs. Lawson, in contrast, just looked disheveled but didn’t have any serious injuries.

"What is everyone doing?! What do you take this place for?!"

Just then, the door was kicked open.

Chase Lockwood stood in the doorway, his face ashen with anger.

When Vivian Lynch saw him, it was like seeing her savior. She ran to him, her face a mask of tears.

"Chase, she’s bullying me."

"Mia Kane, why is it you again?"

Chase Lockwood frowned, his gaze toward her complicated.

She used to be so fragile and gentle, like a docile little white rabbit who needed his protection and affection.

But now she was baring her fangs and claws like a tigress.

He knew perfectly well what type of woman he liked, but for some reason, seeing Mia Kane like this now actually piqued his interest.

’I never knew the real Mia Kane!’

The feeling was an unbearable itch he couldn’t scratch. The woman he had been with for over three years... and he had never seen her true nature.

A man’s competitive drive and pride made him want to possess Mia Kane.

"You, come with me."

Chase Lockwood grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her right out of the room.

"What are you doing? I wasn’t the one who started this. Let go of me."

Mia Kane stumbled to keep up with his pace, then used all her strength to wrench her hand free.

’What would people think, seeing us pulling and shoving like this, given our current relationship?’

Chase Lockwood turned and looked at Mia Kane, his tone calm.

"Can you just not provoke Vivian from now on? She’s gentle-natured, not like... how you are now. Stop bullying her."

Mia Kane scoffed inwardly. ’If Vivian Lynch hadn’t gone crying to her, would Mrs. Lawson, who wants to get on the Lockwood Family’s good side, have been so eager to stand up for her?’

’Vivian Lynch is scared of me now that I’ve fought back, but she’s never stopped wanting to cause trouble.’ 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

’She doesn’t have the guts to confront me herself, so she goads others into doing it, using them as her weapons.’

’And Chase Lockwood still thinks his precious darling is so kind and fragile.’

She couldn’t be bothered to explain. You can never wake a person who is pretending to be asleep.

"Fine, I get it. Can I go now?"

Mia Kane turned to leave but was stopped by him again.

"Do you have any idea why the Lawson Family became the nation’s top real estate company, hailed as property tycoons? It’s not just their own strength. A huge part of it is the support they have from high-level government officials."

"You’re such a troublemaker. You just wanted a moment of satisfaction, but do you realize how many interests are at stake? The Preston Family just secured the government’s military-industrial project. A scene like this could ruin the business between both families."

"Is it that serious?"

Mia Kane stopped and turned to look at Chase Lockwood.

"Do you think I’m kidding? What, did Adrian Preston offend you? Are you trying to bring down the Preston Family?"

Chase Lockwood raised an eyebrow, a gossipy look on his face. He was secretly hoping they would break up so he could take advantage of the situation.

He knew it was immoral, but he just couldn’t control himself.

Mia Kane’s brows furrowed tightly. She was too preoccupied to notice the clingy look Chase Lockwood was giving her.

She clenched her fists.

’I just wanted to cause some trouble,’ she thought, ’to show Adrian Preston that I’m a handful who only brings him grief. Maybe then he’d get tired of me and divorce me.’

Her family wasn’t a truly powerful one, so she didn’t fully understand the intricate relationships within these aristocratic circles.

She knew the Lawson Family had connections in high places, with someone holding a major official post, but she didn’t know the specific position or the extent of their influence.

’Mrs. Lawson is from the second branch of the family and isn’t favored anyway. She has a capable elder brother and sister-in-law holding her down. They probably wouldn’t go after the Preston Family just because of her.’

’Besides, I’m in the right. Mrs. Lawson struck first. Am I just supposed to let her hit me and not fight back?’

Despite thinking this, Mia Kane still ran back upstairs.

"What are you doing?"

"Apologizing."

She could pay the price for her own actions, but she had no right to let others get implicated because of them.

’I didn’t think it through. I have to go apologize. No matter what, I have to get Mrs. Lawson’s forgiveness!’